Wayne Bennett pleased to see Darius Boyd seeking help
1:12

Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett believes it was an important step for Darius Boyd to admit he was suffering depression and check himself into a rehab clinic, insisting the player's welfare is a priority.

Fox Sports

23 Jul 2014

Sport/NRL/Previews & Reviews

Darius Boyd in the dressing rooms.Source: News Corp Australia

NATE Myles has revealed Gold Coast product Darius Boyd had recently “opened up” to his Queensland teammates, leaving them shocked after he was admitted into a mental health facility to seek treatment for depression.

The Newcastle fullback was admitted into a Sydney rehabilitation centre on Wednesday after reports emerged a room he was staying at in a luxury Hunter Valley hotel was trashed last week.

Boyd has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons lately with his brashness towards media tarnishing his reputation.

Paul Kent says Darius Boyd situation a culmination of factors
4:14

NRL 360 host Paul Kent says Newcastle fullback Darius Boyd has been faced with a number of challenges this season that became too much for one person to handle and hopes his stint at a mental health clinic will help him address those challenges.

Fox Sports

23 Jul 2014

Sport/NRL/Previews & Reviews

The 27-year-old was raised on the Gold Coast by grandmother Delphine Boyd, playing his junior football for Mudgeeraba and Burleigh before cracking the NRL with the Brisbane Broncos.

Boyd has been a maligned character in the public because of his perceived persona but his teammates have always spoken highly of him.

Myles, who Boyd has played nearly all of his 20 Origins with, said he had seen a different side of Origin’s greatest ever try-scorer (15) during Queensland’s preparations at Sanctuary Cove this year.

“Darbs is a lot better now in regards to opening up. The last year or two he’s opened up a lot,” he said.

“The last camp this year, a lot of us saw a side of him we’ve never seen before.

“He was pretty emotional and he’s never shown that with us before. We saw a side of him in the last camp that no-one’s seen.

Darius Boyd and Nate Myles.Source: News Corp Australia

“I hope that’s a step in the right direction and this can help him further down the track.

“Hopefully he can open up a bit to other people and express himself.”

Boyd had a tough upbringing.

He never met his father and his mother became “unwell” in his mid-teens with Delphine raising him to become an NRL star.

He has had a poor season for Newcastle but drew level with Greg Inglis as the top try-scorer in Origin history.

Myles and Origin foe Paul Gallen combined to launch a mental health awareness campaign for the NRL and the Titans co-captain said football was where Boyd was most comfortable.

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